Merry Christmas eve all you fellow readers! I'm not really feeling the holiday spirit this year since I'm older lol but when I was younger, my sister and I were allowed to open one gift the night before Xmas (and we'd usually choose to see what we had in our stockings). So to kinda share our tradition with you, I decided to update today. I wasn't going to since I JUST updated with 2 chapters, but what the hell? Lol My views have risen a little and I'm glad! I'd like more reviews, though, pretty pleaaaase :) anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this little chapter!

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CHAPTER SEVEN

Inuyasha

The sun was almost completely set and the temperature started to lower. It felt really nice outside during the evenings. I lay resting in my usual tree with my hands behind my head, staring into the sky when an interesting smell caught my attention.

I looked to the ground to see Sakura and Ayame entering Kaede's hut with some kind of containers in their hands. I hopped down from my post to check it out.

"We bought food." Ayame said cheerfully. Her and Sakura each passed someone a container and they found places to sit and get comfortable.

"Here," Sakura handed me one without making eye contact and sat beside Ayame.

I sniffed the container and opened it up. "Ninja food!"

"Ninja food?" Ayame asked.

"What kind of Ninja food is this?" I proceeded to ask without really waiting on an answer. My mouth watered at the delicate smell of shrimp, scallops and lobster and some spices I couldn't quite put my finger on. I've never had my food cooked so strangely, but it tasted way too good for me to really care.

"It's seafood medley Lo Mein."

"Med-lee low main? What the heck is that?" I asked with my mouth full.

Sakura made a sound that was mixed between a laugh and her trying to hold back a cough so she wouldn't spit her food out. I blushed and tried to hide my embarrassment.

"Medley Lo Mein." She said slowly, the words rolling off her tongue. "It's a Chinese dish. It just means there's different seafood mixed into the Lo Mein, which are the noodles. Vegetables are added sometimes. Gives it a healthy touch."

"Ohh," I cooed. She was actually talking to me without an attitude.

"Well, I like it!" Shippo shared. "Did you cook this, Sakura?"

Sakura shook her head. "Nope, Ayame did."

"This is delicious, Ayame. Thank you for sharing!" Sango smiled in satisfaction.

"I agree. Thank you." Miroku nodded his head towards her.

After dinner, everyone pretty much decided they wanted to rest. Kaede showed them to some vacant huts and they went on their way. I, however, declined. I wasn't very tired. Thoughts of my foot and destroying Naraku kept me awake.

I went back to my spot in the Oak tree above Kaede's hut and stared at the moon. It seemed to shine brighter tonight than any other night. Half of it was gone and consumed by darkness. It was only a few more days until a new moon.

I hated new moons because of who they made me become. I was only a half demon so the human in me has to come out sometimes, right? Well, new moon nights make me the most vulnerable person ever. I lose all of my demon powers and turn 100% human. I try to keep that a secret, though. Only Kagome and the others have seen me in that state before. Oh, and that old hag, too.

I try to stay hidden on those nights. If anything, the one person I really needed to keep my secret from would be Naraku. If he ever knew he'd take the opportunity to strike. I didn't need that problem on my hands. That's why I'll be glad when the Shikon Jewel is full again. I can use its powers to become a full-fledged demon.

"I'm going to wash these. I'll be back, Ayame."

I sat up and looked below me to see Sakura in her weird future clothes, heading into the forest with the containers from earlier in her hands. I don't know what made me do it, but I followed in behind her, jumping from tree to tree.

She stopped a little ways north and knelt down at a river and began to wash out each container and set them aside.

"She came all the way out here for water when there's a river in the middle of the village?" I rose an eyebrow and watched her from a few trees behind the clear opening to where she was.

"Of course I did. I didn't want scraps of food to be washed into the pure village water when I know this stream doesn't cross paths with that one."

I flinched, forgetting that she could hear as well as I could. I groaned and crossed my arms.

"If I didn't know any better I'd think you had some feline in your blood somewhere." She said, placing another container beside her.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Your curiosity. Why were you following me?"

I didn't have an answer to her question besides the truth, but revealing that wasn't an option. I wasn't about to make myself sound crazy to her. "I just…wanted to make sure you were okay." I stammered. I put my palm to my face and frowned. So much for trying not to sound crazy.

"I'm pretty sure you know I can take care of myself by now."

"Yeah, whatever." I looked away from her.

"Hey, listen,"

I turned my head back towards her and watched as she stood with the wet containers in her hands. She walked to the base of the tree I was sitting on and leaned on the one opposite of it so she would be facing me.

"I just wanted to apologize for snapping at you earlier. I wasn't in the best mood and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. So, I'm sorry."

I could see the shyness on her face and the light blush on her cheeks with help from the moon light even as she had her face turned away from me. It must have taken a lot for her to say that. Now I had to apologize. Great. Then again…I guess Shippo and Miroku were right.

"Well, I'm sorry too…for being so rude to you and your sister." I placed a hand on the back of my neck and stretched my mouth as if it pained me to apologize to her. I was just glad that I got that out of the way. Now there was just one more thing…

I jumped down from the branch I was sitting on to come face-to-face with her. "Also, I wouldn't mind you two traveling along. You are useful demons and your help would be appreciated." I looked anywhere but at her until I heard her snicker. "What is it?" I said, a little irritated.

"We were coming with or without your 'permission'." She used air quotes.

I glared at her and she just continued to smile at me. I looked her up and down. Her right leg was crossed over left as she leaned back, showing off a lot of leg in her short pants. Her shirt was loose but it still fit her nicely. Her black shoes looked heavy but she didn't seem to mind. She did have the strength to walk in them, after all. I felt a little shy examining her the way I was and quickly glanced away and crossed my arms. Looking at her made my body temperature rise and my cheeks flush.

"Where'd you get those weird clothes from anyway? Did Kagome bring them back for you before she stayed in her time?"

"Huh? No. These are my own. I washed my other ones back and home. Ayame and I can travel through time. You do know the legend, don't you?"

"Oh, yeah." I had forgotten all about that.

"How is your foot?"

I looked down at the bandages covering my foot. "It's okay, I guess." I shrugged.

"You should really stay off of it, ya know. I'll heal faster." She kicked off of the tree and started to walk back to the village.

"Eh, I'll be fine. So, tell me about this time travel business."

Sakura stopped walking and waited until I caught up with her to start talking. What kept me interested in her story was not only the story itself, but the fascination in her voice as she was speaking. She went from explaining the process of traveling through time to other things like her ancestors and some of the powers she had.

We both got comfortable in my Oak tree and talked for hours. It was a really interesting conversation and as much as she talked, I never got tired of hearing her voice.

Maybe she had the potential to be my friend. And if not that- seeing as how we butted heads having strong opinions about certain things during our talk- hopefully we would be able to get along long enough without clawing each others heads off.